Lightning, Bright House Networks Announce Score With Reading Program

Lightning, Bright House Networks Announce Score With Reading ProgramThe Tampa Bay Lightning and Bright House Score With Reading Initiative is Aimed to Help First Graders Read 20 Minutes Per Day

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning, in conjunction with presenting sponsor Bright House Networks, re-launched the Score With Reading program today. This free reading incentive program is designed for Tampa Bay area first grade teachers to implement in their classrooms from September 30-November 8. Lightning forward and reigning NHL point-leader, Martin St. Louis, along with ThunderBug will be on a reading "power play" stressing the importance of literacy throughout this campaign.

Score With Reading encourages first grade students to read at least 20 minutes per day and keep track of minutes they read outside of the classroom. The program motivates students to become "all-star" readers with reading milestones and the ability to win prizes. Teachers are also incentivized for participating in the program. Teachers are encouraged to sign their classroom up by September 24 on the Score With Reading webpage found on www.tampabaylightning.com/ScoreWithReading. Twenty lucky classrooms will be randomly selected to receive a "ThunderBug Reading Rally" during the reading period, to help motivate classes to reach their target goals.

"We are pleased to be able to provide this reading initiative for students, hopefully further inspiring them to embrace reading and education and to support teachers' efforts in the classroom," said Martin St. Louis. "We appreciate all the support that this collaborative project is receiving from the local school districts, principals, parents and, most importantly, the classroom teachers and students."

"Bright House Networks is proud to team up with the Lightning to help inspire students to become "all-star" readers, and to support teachers in creating a passion for reading in their students", said Stephen Colafrancesco, corporate vice president, marketing for Bright House Networks. "Score With Reading makes reading fun for kids, and fosters a life-long love for reading and learning, which will serve them well the rest of their lives."

Students who read 20 minutes per day for 20 days (400 total minutes) by the end of the two-month program will earn a free Lightning ticket voucher and a sticker. Students who read 20 minutes a day for 40 days (800 total minutes) by the end of the program will also earn a second free ticket voucher to a select Tampa Bay Lightning home game. All teachers who register and participate in the program will receive two Lightning ticket vouchers for an upcoming Lightning game. Following program completion, a select number of teachers will also receive $250 gift cards to Lakeshore Learning to enhance their classroom materials.